I owned an antique combination pool and 3 cushion table made in the 1920s , it featured 2 sets of rails that had a built in clamping system on the table. It was difficult to get the rails solid the whole length though.
Small pockets ruining the game
- Thread starter smiling_Hans
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I imagine on a billiard table. Pool tables would only require a good plug and play attachment system. (waiting for RKC to explain why this is not possible) Lock, load, play...
an interesting concept, looks very nice! is this in a big city?
I say actual pool only in reference to learning vs selling it. Snooker makes a good stock example. they (I presume) started out with the ideal of royal imperial marksmanship and toward that end pushed the difficulty well into boring. Conversely, pool took the marksman theme and went with the capitalistic, better fishing - ending up with a golden age of fishing but equipment that presented no challenges to the practitioner. And so it stands - give or take. Point being, snooker pockets are a given even though they didn't quite get it right, and pool pockets are also a given even though they only got the sell part right. The "actual" pool has stalled at quantity and suckers.
dendweller
Well-known member
Different sets of rails, the whole top that bolts on the slate would work, but any type of plug and play will no doubt play similarly to over sized or multiple shims and that aint good for one pocket or banks in particular. Would also make the pockets play easier at the smaller size for other games and I don't think that's what you're looking for.
I've got a gold crown with 3/8 inch 50 durometer shims and although the pockets are smaller than the hall I play at that have standard pockets, they don't play as tough if you catch a point. Standard facings are not forgiving in that way, larger facings are.
Why couldn't the entire rubber set be plug and play?
Pierre Shakes
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Victoria, BC, Canada. Greater Victoria is 300,000 people.
dendweller
Well-known member
I guess you'd have to give me some idea what you mean by plug and play, would they clamp on, bolt on etc.
Glue attaches the rubber to the subrail at all points and provides a solid surfact to attack the facing at the pocket opennings. A little cement lets loose you have a dead spot on the rail. What system could provide that type of consistent connectivity other than glue?
lol One that doesn't. It's not miracle tech.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
So today, I played at one of the re-vamped locations of the business I usually play at (far from downtown, but they are revamping the two downtown locations soon). They have 16 x 4.125" and 4 x 4" pocket Rasson tables. Replacing the Aileex that were there before. They put in 4 x snooker tables, 4 x Chinese-8 tables too. Will post photos later. It looks pretty damn good. I can't wait for them to revamp the one closer to my home.
I actually don't see what the fuss is about... 4" is harder, yes, marginally for someone who would consider themselves capable at playing. But I found adjusting to speed on brand new cloth more annoying than being slightly more concise with pocketing balls.
I know the attitude where I am is probably very different to the US, more akin to Europe in its perception of pool as a sport, or something that is for people wanting to take it seriously. But I really fail to see how it could be described as 'ruining the game' - I think the game will adjust, and aggressive play won't be lost...
I think slightly longer races, and therefore more opportunity to see games swing in the balance, would encourage players to take those risks that they won't when they know they're done for if they bottle a shot on tables with smaller pockets.
I actually don't see what the fuss is about... 4" is harder, yes, marginally for someone who would consider themselves capable at playing. But I found adjusting to speed on brand new cloth more annoying than being slightly more concise with pocketing balls.
I know the attitude where I am is probably very different to the US, more akin to Europe in its perception of pool as a sport, or something that is for people wanting to take it seriously. But I really fail to see how it could be described as 'ruining the game' - I think the game will adjust, and aggressive play won't be lost...
I think slightly longer races, and therefore more opportunity to see games swing in the balance, would encourage players to take those risks that they won't when they know they're done for if they bottle a shot on tables with smaller pockets.
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dendweller
Well-known member
sounds like you have it figured out then
In machine shops we use magnetic bases to support instrumentation. Measurements repeatable to less than a thousandth of an inch. To remove them just takes a quarter turn of a knob. I would think that full length magnetic strips and a few pins or ridges to precisely locate the cushion assembly would work. Some snooker tables already have a metal backing so a double metal strip shouldn't be an issue. This would allow changing out rails in fifteen minutes or less I would think. With small changes it might not even be necessary to change out the end rails.
Just some thoughts. The quick change cushions would allow for pockets with sharp pool style corners or rounded snooker pockets too. Might add a set of carom rails too. It isn't unusual to see pockets with straight rails over them on carom tables now. Might add two to three thousand to the cost of a table new which isn't a minor cost but would position a room owner to deal with pretty much whatever changes the future holds.
Hu
Just some thoughts. The quick change cushions would allow for pockets with sharp pool style corners or rounded snooker pockets too. Might add a set of carom rails too. It isn't unusual to see pockets with straight rails over them on carom tables now. Might add two to three thousand to the cost of a table new which isn't a minor cost but would position a room owner to deal with pretty much whatever changes the future holds.
Hu
Haven't really thought about it.
I see:
mmkay... rubber gets glued to something else which gets bolted down. Solution, glue rubber to brackets that attach to the thing that needs bolting down. Why is this an engineering problem?
dendweller
Well-known member
again, sounds like you have it all figured out.
Not really concerned about the specifics but tell me, what am I leaving out?
dendweller
Well-known member
no clue. my opinion is just another opinion
Oh well...
Anyway, say you do this conversion on a Diamond. The only spec you need to watch is the throat rattle. Some math and you have the required jaw angles to approximate or even eliminate the Diamond's dynamics. All the way past square for all I care.
Agree w the tipping point. Players will adapt to survive. Or not. Any world class player has the stroke for small holes. It's just a small learning curve and they will adjust and get this shit figured out. Fast.
As far as convertible tables go....
Brunswick used to make convertible tables but it was with two sets of rails (pool/carom). Like around 1920.
Around 2000, both Gabriels and Chevillotte sold convertible tables. I believe Chevillotte changed out rails normally. Gabriels had rails with strong magnets in them. I saw a table at a BCA trade show and it took about five minutes to change the rails out between carom/pool/snooker.
Neither company seems to offer a convertible table any more.
Pocket blocks can work to convert pool to carom, but the result is not acceptable to most serious carom players.
Brunswick used to make convertible tables but it was with two sets of rails (pool/carom). Like around 1920.
Around 2000, both Gabriels and Chevillotte sold convertible tables. I believe Chevillotte changed out rails normally. Gabriels had rails with strong magnets in them. I saw a table at a BCA trade show and it took about five minutes to change the rails out between carom/pool/snooker.
Neither company seems to offer a convertible table any more.
Pocket blocks can work to convert pool to carom, but the result is not acceptable to most serious carom players.